Chapter 1: A New Life?
JUNO (V.O.)
My name is Juno Arendal. I'm an engineer. Grew up overseas — studied at MIT. Graduating this year — 23 years old.
Not much of a social life, my parents died when I was young, but I've made peace with that.
Today, I'm about to present my latest invention to the class.
It's an energy system — a prototype that could theoretically generate massive amounts of clean, renewable power. If it works, it could change everything.
Suddenly, as I wait to enter the classroom—
WHAM.
I'm hit by a truck. Full speed.
What the bloody hell is a truck doing inside a building?
BLACK.
My eyes snap open.
What the actual fuck just happened?
I look around. All-black room. Silent. Still.
I was just hit by a truck.
What is happening?
A desk. A figure behind it. Faceless. Backlit by nothing.
JUNO
(uneasy)
"Hello?"
FIGURE
(calmly)
"Hello, Mr. Arendal. I've brought you here to give you some bad news."
Beat.
FIGURE
"You're dead."
He lets that hang. I blink.
FIGURE
"This is purgatory — where we decide where you go next."
JUNO
(half-laughs)
"Seriously?"
FIGURE
"You may go to what most believe is Heaven or Hell… or you may be reincarnated into another world."
JUNO
"Do I get to choose where I go?"
FIGURE
(shakes head)
"No. It's random."
JUNO
"And… do I keep my memories?"
FIGURE
"Usually not. But…"
(leans forward)
"…since your death was an accident, we'll allow it."
I nod slowly.
JUNO
"Alright, then. I'd like to be reincarnated."
FIGURE
"Very well. Let's spin the wheel."
A massive glowing wheel appears and begins to spin.
Faster… faster…
Names flash by in bursts of neon light:
Naruto… Harry Potter… Ben 10…
Then it slows…
…and lands on:
FALLOUT (TV SHOW)
JUNO
"…Brilliant."
(sighs)
"I barely know the show. Played a couple of the games sort of. unlucky."
FIGURE
"Well, that's that, Mr. Arendal. Remember: your role is also random."
(beat)
"Good luck — and goodbye."
BLACKNESS.
Then—
A SCREEN APPEARS.
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW WORLD
Would you like to customize your character or choose random?
JUNO
"Customize!"
(yelling into the void)
SYSTEM
Very well. What would you like?
JUNO
"Let's stay true to who I was. Black hair, green eyes, lanky build… about 6'1".
Goatee, mullet, mustache. Looks about right.
…Okay, maybe I was shorter in my past life."
Confirmed. Proceeding.
FADE TO WHITE.
Then—
I wake up.